The influence of risk factors related to management on the prevalence of infectious claw disorders in dutch dairy herds.

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The influence of risk factors related to management on the prevalence of infectious claw disorders in dutch dairy herds.

Aalders, M.A.P.J.

(2015) Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Theses

(Master thesis)

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of risk factors related to management on the prevalence of infectious claw disorders (ICD) on 40 dairy herds in the Netherlands. The dairy herds were located 70 kilometers around Deventer (NL) and the average herd size was 76 producing dairy ... read more cows. Two professional hoof trimmers collected information about the presence of ICD from 2,701 lactating dairy cows. Additionally, management risk factors associated with ICD were investigated by students through a survey and observational study. The risk factors could be divided into two groups: risk factors related to introduction ICD into and spread within the herd and risk factors related to standing time. The cow level prevalence of digital dermatitis (DD) was 28.98%, the cow level prevalence of interdigital dermatitis (ID) was 13.74% and the cow level prevalence of interdigital phlegmon (IP) was 0.47%. The herd level prevalence of DD, ID and IP varied from 3-61%, from 0-46%, and from 0-3%, respectively. Univariable and multivariable analyses were used to investigate the association between ICD and management related risk factors. In the final model (multivariable analysis), none of the risk factors were associated with ID and IP, but DD was mainly associated with several factors related to introduction into and spread within the herd: rearing young stock, frequency of manure scraper and access to pasture. The risk factor relative number of cubicles was found to be a confounder for the prevalence of DD. Rearing young stock at another farm together with young stock of another herd resulted in a higher prevalence of DD (odds ratio (OR): 6,239,627) compared to rearing young stock at the same farm and in the same stable as the producing dairy herd. Rearing young stock at another stable (OR: 0) or at another farm (OR: 0.11) was negatively associated with the prevalence of DD. Zero grazing was associated with a higher prevalence of DD compared to limited grazing (OR: 132,257). Unlimited grazing also resulted in a higher prevalence of DD, compared to dairy herds with limited grazing (OR: 548). A frequency of floor scraping of > twice a day showed a higher prevalence of DD compared to = twice a day (OR: 72,983). show less

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